Anchor of Secrets by Tessa Hale

26

Trace hadn’t cometo my room last night. The knowledge burned deep in my chest, leaving behind an ache I wasn’t sure would ever lessen. The ache of having someone your soul craved within touching distance, yet impossibly out of reach.

“Hey, you okay?” Dash asked gently.

I gave myself a mental shake as I pulled on knee-high socks. “I’m good.”

Colt didn’t look convinced. “You don’t need to go to school today.”

When Trace hadn’t miraculously appeared last night, the nightmares had come again. The ones where Damien had me locked away where no one could find me, and the agony of his bites never ended.

My own screams hadn’t woken me. It was Dash shaking my shoulders, the guys behind him. Only Trace had been missing.

My mouth went dry as I thought about where he might’ve been. Or with who.

I shook myself out of it. I needed to be grateful for what I had. Colt and Dash had slept the rest of the night with me, making me feel secure and safe.

I shoved off the bed. “I’m good, really. I need school and normal.” At least the hope of normalcy, because who knew if Alister would show up again.

Dash grabbed my backpack for me. “Then we’ll do normal.” His eyes twinkled. “Wanna make out under the bleachers?”

A laugh burst out of me. “Are we gonna get detention for that?”

Dash pulled me into his arms, his face getting close. “I don’t know, Mon Coeur. But it would be worth it.”

Colt rolled his eyes. “We’re all gonna get detention if we’re late, so let’s get some breakfast.”

Dash kissed the tip of my nose. “Later.”

There was a world of promise in that one word, and a shiver ran through me.

“You’re killing me, Mon Coeur.”

I bit my lip.

He tugged it free. “You should come with a warning label. So dangerous.”

I blushed, slipping from his hold.

“Can’t wait to see all the places you blush,” Dash called.

My face only got hotter. I hurried down the hall to the stairs, Colt and Dash quickly catching up with me.

Muted voices came from the dining room, and I moved in that direction, bracing myself. As I stepped inside, two pairs of eyes lifted to me. Declan had gone home late last night, saying he needed to make an appearance on horde lands. That had sent Ronan storming off. Now it was just Ronan and Trace at the dining table.

My gaze instantly sought out Trace. He looked rough, with dark circles under his eyes and hair disheveled. His skin was a shade paler, making the tattoos on his hands and neck stand out more. The moment our gazes locked, he averted his. My stomach dropped.

“Morning,” Ronan greeted. “How are you feeling?”

“Good,” I said, forcing cheer into my voice as I sat.

I opted for fruit and yogurt this morning, unsure if I could handle more.

Dash frowned at me. “That’s all you’re having?”

“It’s a healthy breakfast.”

“You need more protein, fat.” He inclined his head to his plate piled high with eggs, bacon, and biscuits.

“I don’t need that every morning,” I argued.

“You should bring a snack to school with you in case you get hungry later,” Colt said. “This might not hold you over.”

“I think I’ll survive,” I muttered.

Ronan covered a laugh with a cough.

I pinned him with a glare.

He only laughed harder. “Love watching them turn into mother hens with you.”

“It’s not funny,” I grumbled.

One corner of Ronan’s mouth kicked up. “It’s a little funny.”

Conversation stayed light as we ate, but when we finished, Colt disappeared into the kitchen, reappearing with two protein bars that he shoved into my backpack. I just rolled my eyes. If it made him feel better, I could live with it.

We made our way outside to the SUV, and my gaze kept pulling to Trace. I couldn’t help but worry about him. I moved a little closer. “Are you okay?”

His eyes snapped to me. “Fine.”

“You don’t look it.”

Trace’s back molars ground together. “Don’t need you worrying about me, Leighton.”

The use of my name hurt. I longed for that lilting of his voice when he called me Little Bird. But I swallowed down the pain. “You can’t stop me from worrying. That’s what happens when you care about someone.”

Panic flared to life in Trace’s violet eyes. “Haven’t you learned by now? You should never care about monsters.”

He climbed into the front seat of the Escalade and slammed the door.

Dash moved in behind me, squeezing my neck. “Give him time.”

I didn’t respond. There were no words to say. Not when I wasn’t sure that this was a rift that would ever heal.

The ride to school was quiet. But Dash held tight to my hand the whole way, tracing comforting circles on my skin. When Colt parked, Trace shot out of the SUV like his ass was on fire.

Colt frowned at his disappearing back.

Ronan climbed out of the back seat. “I’ll make sure he’s okay.”

My chest cracked. I wanted to do that. To soothe Trace’s demons. But he didn’t want that from me.

Instead, I followed Colt and Dash into the school. We wound our way through the sea of students to my locker. I deposited books and then shut the door.

“Ready,” I said, glancing up at Colt and Dash.

“Here’s to a normal fucking day,” Dash said. “Maybe a little teen pregnancy scare.”

I snorted.

As we headed down the hall, I caught sight of Chloe. Mimi and Grace were back at her sides. I guessed she’d forgiven them for going after what she considered hers.

The smile that spread across Chloe’s face set me on edge. It had an evil glint that matched her black heart. She flipped the strands of her bob as she came to a stop in front of us, her eyes going to Colt. “Heard you ran into a little trouble in the caves.”

I stiffened, my spine snapping straight.

Colt’s face stayed carefully blank. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”

Confusion filled her expression for a moment, and then her face reddened. “They should’ve gutted you when they had the chance.”

Rage, hot and dark, blasted through me. I didn’t think. I simply lunged.